See, way back when in the feminist movement, we tried for "Ms." So smart. Can there be in a way to address a woman in Mexico without worrying about her actual marital status so we don't make a mistake and offend? It's possible that this is already being discussed in the Mexican community. Wish I knew. Hey! MoreIliana. . .
Lexy

The designation is more complex than simply an issue of marital status and indeed the use varies from Hispanic country to country. I've checked with Mexican family and Mexican friends, here at the lake and elsewhere across the country: unanimously all responded "señora". It has more to do with level of life-experience; here in Mexico, "señorita" isn't used much at all, not even by students to address a young teacher. Looking up some cultural references also, it seems to refer to "age of maturity (sexual) and experience" as a descriptor.

The designation is more complex than simply an issue of marital status and indeed the use varies from Hispanic country to country. I've checked with Mexican family and Mexican friends, here at the lake and elsewhere across the country: unanimously all responded "señora". It has more to do with level of life-experience; here in Mexico, "señorita" isn't used much at all, not even by students to address a young teacher. Looking up some cultural references also, it seems to refer to "age of maturity (sexual) and experience" as a descriptor.

Students almost always call their female teachers 'Maestra', not Señorita or Señora.

In city newspapers, in the funeral home ads, names are listed with their honorifics or their professional titles, no matter the age or gender. For example:

Sra. Angelina Muñoz Córdoba, a los 76 años

Srita. Josefina Villahermosa D'Ávila, a los 98 años

Ing. Marcos Díaz Lizárraga, a los 45 años

Niño Belisario Juáregui Amores, a los 8 años

etc.

IMHO it is always better to err on the side of accuracy. Given that you KNOW that she has never married, she is señorita until she asks you to introduce her by something else. I'd go with that.

Having said all those things, it is common among among a certain class to call a woman "Seño", which acts as 'Ms' if you do NOT know her marital status.

Years ago, I was kind of scolded by a woman "of a certain age" for calling her Senora. If she's never been married, she is assumed to be a virgin, therefore Senorita. When a young girl starts menstruating, they say, 'Ahora es senorita" (no longer a liitle girl.) As MoreLiana says, at least here in Ajijic where many still still maintain "country" manners, I am often called "senyo" (sorry, this laptop is in English so don't have the tilde) by people who do not know if I am a sra. or srta.

"He upon whose heart the dust of Mexico has lain will find no peace in any other land." Malcolm Lowry

An unmarried woman may or may not prefer to be called señorita; I've heard Mexican men address women of, shall we say, that indeterminate age where these decisions become difficult as "seño" - leaving off the last part so as not to put their foot in their mouth - fence-sitting if you will. Apparently calling them either señorita or señora is risky unless you have "the facts" and they aren't always available.